Tabs

Friday, December 10, 2010

Can Manchester City Win Without Tevez?

Tevez suspended for City's match against West Ham

Any player who has a record of 30 goals in 50 Premier League appearances is going to be missed, so it is understandable that Roberto Mancini is calling for his Manchester City players to stand up, and be counted in the absence of Carlos Tevez.

Those following the Live match score centre closely when City are involved will note that they have won just one game without Tevez goal all year – a 2-0 win away at West Brom – and he has scored nearly half of all their goals this season, 10 out of 21.

His goals have blasted City up to fourth in the table and a win at bottom-placed club West Ham on Saturday will see them leapfrog Chelsea into third.

Considering the amount of money spent at the City of Manchester Stadium in recent years, it is surprising to see them rely so heavily on one player. However, thanks to a fifth yellow card of the season picked up against Bolton last week (where he scored the only goal of course), Carlos Tevez will be suspended.

Mario Balotelli will take Tevez's place against West Ham

With fellow striker Emmanuel Adebayor unable to train this week thanks to a groin injury, £25 million striker Mario Bolotelli looks set to step in.

Livescore football pundits note that the controversial 20-year-old striker has yet to really settle since his big money move from Inter Milan in the summer, and was involved in a training ground altercation with team-mate Jerome Boateng earlier this month. However, City assistant boss David Platt believes the Italian is the best finisher at the club and has backed him to do the business against the Hammers.

In the absence of the influential Tevez, it’s Bolotelli’s big chance to prove it. What do you think? Can Manchester City win without Tevez? Comment below!